Night Sky Observations - Student

Example
iPAD app: GoSkyWatch Planetarium - Astronomy Guide to the Night Sky
By GoSoftWorks
*This assignment has 6 numbered items, and may be done on printed paper or submitted
electronically!
This app will help us explore what is visible in the night sky, without light pollution or the use of a
telescope! Even better, these observations can be done during the day (optional: these is a
NightMode for this application which is useful for finding constellations with the naked eye)
Directions:
1. Before launching the app on the iPAD, make sure to read through the User Guide to
familiarize yourself with the features: User Guide
2. Launch the GoSkyWatch Planetarium app on the iPAD. App may ask permisson to use
your location, tap Okay. In Settings, double check that your location on the map is
current. Then, spend a decent amount of time exploring what you can see with the app,
adjust the settings, lookup information on different objects in the sky, zoom in and out by
pinching the screen, etc. Explore!
3. Now that youve checked out the app a bit on your own, lets use it record objects that
are visible in the sky above:

Name: Katie Pickett

Date: March 26, 2017
Time and Location (approximate): 3 P.M. Irvine, CA

In the menu, scroll through the visible 1. Sun

Tab. List some of the Solar System
objects that are visible right now. (At least 2. Moon
2 listed)

What are some of the constellations 1. Andromeda (Princess)

visible right now? (List at least 5.)
2. Draco (Dragon)

3. Cygnus (Swan)

4. Lyra (Lyre)

5. Orion (Hunter)

What are some of the Deep Sky objects 1. M44 Beehive Cluster
 visible? (List at least 2.)
2. C2 Bow-Tie Nebula

Write down the 3 closest visible stars in 1. Sirius: 8.6 ly, -1.4
order and list their distance (in ly) and
magnitude. 2. Epsilon Eridani: 10.5 ly, 3.7

3. 61 Cygni: 11.4 ly, 5.2

4. Find the Moon in the Menu, under Solar System Objects and answer these
questions. You may also want to use this site to find more detailed data on the moon.

1. Sketch (or paste Image) and write down the Lunar Phase of the Moon for
today.
 Waning Crescent

2. Is the Moon visible right now? When does the Moon rise today? When
does the Moon set? And when does the Moon transit the sky?

Yes, the Moon is technically visible right now (it is above the horizon line). The
Moon rose at 6:01 A.M. and sets at 5:53 P.M. The Moon transited the sky at
11:54 A.M.

Constellation Pet Project

5. This portion of the assignment is to familiarize yourself with one of the constellations
in the sky. So pick a constellation that shows up in the menu as being visible for today.
Next, you will look up information in Wikipedia and Ian Ridpaths Star Tales (in App) to
write down information about this constellation as well as providing a quick sketch (or
image) of the Constellation Image with the Constellation Lines. (You will do this on the
next page, see image below for example.) You are welcome to paste an image if doing
this assignment electronically. If you are sketching the image, you will not be graded for
artistic ability; it should just be a fun sketch that should capture an idea of what the
image and lines of the constellation looks like; it does not need to be perfect but please
use a ruler for drawing the constellation lines!

This example is actually of two Constellations, you will only need to sketch and
summarize information for one.

Name of the Constellation: Pegasus (Winged Horse)

What times of the year is this It is high in the sky in summer and is
constellation visible in the Northern visible through autumn. It is currently near
Hemisphere? the horizon line right now, making it
difficult to see by eye.

On this page, please summarize the information you found about this
constellation and draw a sketch.

SUMMARY: Pegasus, or the Winged-Horse SKETCH (or Find appropriate image):

Constellation, is one of the 48 Greek

Constellations that were described by

Ptolemy. Pegasus, the winged-horse is often

associated with Bellerophon or Perseus

(although Pegasus was not the steed of

Perseus, but Bellerophon). According to

Greek mythology, when Medusa was

decapitated by Perseus, Pegasus sprange

from the blood of her body. Pegasus in many

of the ancient stories is depicted as horse

with wings and magical abilities. This

Constellation is the 7th largest of the 88

constellations.

Deep Sky Objects

6. For this last portion of the assignment, we will take a look at the Deep Sky Objects
listed in the Menu. Pick any Deep Sky Object, it does not have to be visible right now;
just an object that captures your interest. Look up information about this object (you can
use the Wikipedia article provided in the app) and answer the following:

What is the name and type of object is C22 Snowball Nebula( NGC 7662),
this? Planetary Nebula

When was this Object first observed? Discovered by William Herschel on

How was it properly identified? October 6, 1784; no information found on
its identification

What is this Objects distance from Distance from Earth is very approximate,
Earth? Size? Magnitude? Diameter? about 1,800-4,000 ly away. Its magnitude
(List all that are applicable to your is 8.6, and its diameter is estimated to be
object, do not forget units.) about 2.2 ly across.

List any Notable Features about this The nuclei of this planetary nebulae are
Object. (At least one feature) among the hottet known, and this nebula
is popular among casual stargazers (due
to its brightness).

Sketch or paste an image of this object

(You may only be able to find an
artists rendition of this object.) Just a
reminder that this portion will only be
graded for completion, a sketch or
pasted image are both acceptible.

Scoring Guide for Night Sky

Observations
Scoring Guide for Points Possible Points Earned
Night Sky
Observations
Name, Date and 3
Approxiate Time listed

2 Solar System Objects 2

that are visible (in app) for
date/time and listed.

5 Constellation names 5
listed that are visible (in
app) during time observed.

2 Deep Sky Objects that 2

are visible during
Observations

3 Stars that are visible, as 3

well as their distances and
magnitude.

Sketch or Image of the 5

Moon as it would appear,
as well as the correct
Lunar Phase

Answered all four Moon 5

Questions (visiblity,
moonrise, moonset, moon
transit)

Provided Name of 2
Constellation seen in app,
as well as when it is visible
in the Northern
Hemisphere

Summary of 15
Constellations Star Tale
(must be a paragraph in
length)

Sketch that must include: 10

-neat Constellation lines
-Constellation Image

Listed type of Deep Sky 3

Object and Name:

Answered observational 3
history questions (2) about
object
Listed a Notable feature of 2
the object

Provided an image or 10
sketch of the Deep Sky
Object

Assignment was submitted 20

by hand or electronically by
the assigned due date.

Assignment was neat and 10

organized.

Total Points 100